The Path

With Actors Lke Aaron Paul & Hugh Dancy The Path builds one hell of a foundation for seasons to come. It demonstrates the potential to grow deeper and more rewarding as it matures, like any drama Katims has been associated with. The Path begins with Eddie already suspicious of his faith, following an encounter with a defector and his own personal revelations about the group's leadership following a trip to a healing center in Peru. In the episodes that follow, a great deal of the dialogue centers on his uncertainty in relation to whether or not to defect himself. It's a big decision, to be sure, but the writing offers little in the way of nuance or original ideas each time Eddie is volleyed back and forth between the spiritual and philosophical certainty of Meyerism and the depressing yet liberating instability of "the real world." The Path is unfortunately content to focus on a variety of rote melodramatic byways that give little insight into the fight between faith and personal desire, or the psychological relief and societal bliss that believers expect from their chosen religions.

The Path is an excellent rendering of a contemporary cult and the machinations, lies, delusions and outright corruption engaged upon to ensure its survival. If one studies cults and how they lure in followers, and how they manipulate them into buying into their ideas and eventually losing touch with their own sense of reality, self determinism and free-will, the Path brings all of that out into the open. Sometimes it is actually painful to watch if you have ever known someone, especially someone close to you, who has been caught in the maws of a cult. Moreover, the producers did a great job of showing just how such a cult as The Path, can hide behind the mantle of religiosity, and using peer pressure, and more importantly, peer-mentality, cover up all manner of abuses, violations of human rights and corruption. Although the characters, in some cases, appear to be extreme, it can only be said that until one has experienced the reality of life inside the inner sanctum of a cult, that it is hard to believe that people can become, literally, another person altogether once they have turned over their loyalty to the cult. Normal people become abnormal. Kids disconnect from their families and loved ones. And social personalities become toxic - all in the name of the pursuit of spirituality. The contradictions are well played in this series. Definitely worth watching.

Meyerism is a new age movement founded by Dr. Stephen Meyer back in the 70's viewed by the outside world as a cult. Its main concept is to climb a ladder to the top to receive the universal truth. Cal Roberts (Hugh Dancy) is an ambitious leader of the movement. Sarah (Michelle Monaghan) is a committed Meyerist married to doubting Eddie Lane (Aaron Paul). Their teen son Hawk (Kyle Allen) struggles to find his place. Mary Cox (Emma Greenwell) is saved by the Meyerists after a tornado and becomes infatuated with Cal. There are old guards, seeds of doubt, suspicion, and deceit as the movement faces challenges from outside and within. Rockmond Dunbar is an undercover FBI agent in the first two seasons and the show is cancelled after three seasons.

The first season promises some interesting intrigue within a secret society. The leading trio are all terrific actors and the characters are fascinating. It starts a little rocky. There are narrative issues but the great actors are always compelling. The second season adds its own issues. I really dislike the water plot device. I appreciate the purpose of it but I don't like the side road it takes the show onto. This is a show of intriguing potential and good actors. It does struggle to maintain the narrative at times. The triad leads probably diffuses the protagonist intensity. The rocky flow keeps it from being a great must watch.

I found The Path to be a thought-provoking series that delves into themes of faith, religion, cult dynamics, and the struggles of breaking free from oppressive belief systems. While I appreciated the characters and the complex questions the series posed, there were significant flaws that hindered my overall enjoyment.

What I Liked: The series excels in exploring the psychological grip that cults can have on individuals and how belief systems shape people's identities. It prompted me to reflect on broader questions: Why do people stay in harmful systems? Can one separate a philosophy from its flawed founder? These are questions relevant not just to fictional movements like Meyerism but to real-world religions, ideologies, and even cultural icons.

My favorite character was Cal Robertson, played brilliantly by Hugh Dancy. He embodied the charisma and inner turmoil of a cult leader in a compelling way. I also appreciated the evolution of his relationship with Mary-it was one of the few character arcs that felt authentic and well-developed.

What I Disliked: Unfortunately, the series often relied on unnecessary drama and improbable situations. Relationships were especially frustrating, with characters falling in and out of love at a dizzying pace. Eddie (Aaron Paul) and Sara's dynamic, in particular, felt inconsistent and contrived, as did Hawk and Caleb's relationship. Transitions between major plot points also lacked plausibility; for instance, Eddie's abrupt rise to leadership or the sudden shifts in Sara and Cal's status within the movement felt unearned.

Another major issue was the lack of strong character consistency. Eddie begins as a skeptic, but when he gains power, he exhibits little empathy for those experiencing the same doubts he once had. This made him less relatable as the series progressed.

The ending was the biggest disappointment. It left too many loose ends and failed to provide satisfying resolutions to the themes and character arcs. It felt rushed, as if the creators had run out of steam and just wanted to wrap things up.

Broader Reflections: The show has clear parallels to real-life movements, particularly the Rajneesh movement led by Osho. Like Steven Meyer in the series, Osho preached a philosophy that resonated with many, yet his personal actions undermined his ideals. This raises an ethical dilemma: Is it acceptable to embrace a philosophy or movement if its founder was deeply flawed? Similarly, can we enjoy art by creators like Michael Jackson or Bill Cosby while acknowledging their moral failings?

This tension is mirrored in the characters' choices. Should Eddie, Sara, and Cal continue Meyerism despite knowing its origins? The series invites viewers to wrestle with these questions, even if it doesn't offer clear answers.

Final Thoughts: While The Path had its moments of brilliance and strong performances-particularly from Hugh Dancy-it was let down by uneven writing and unsatisfying resolutions. The show shines when it focuses on moral and philosophical dilemmas but stumbles with melodrama and weak plotting. My overall score is 7/10, with most of the points earned for its ambitious themes and thought-provoking questions.

Pretty entertaining. There were no scientologist harmed during the making of The Path.